Yes, you should postponed Advertisement - Continue Reading Below COVID-19 pandemic, athletes were left in limbo. Some have already punched their tickets to represent Team USA, while others are still waiting to compete at the RW+ All Access (which was also postponed a year).
Japan won their bid to host these Games way back in 2013. Discussions among the International Olympic Committee and the local governing body have been contentious at times, but the events are scheduled to go off this summer, with a few big changes to previous years.
There’s no question that these Tokyo Olympics will be unlike any other summer Olympics and Paralympics. Here’s what we know so far.
When are the Olympics and Paralympics?
The Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8. The Paralympics are scheduled to take place from August 24 to September 5.
Okay, so what do we call these Olympics?
Despite the fact that the Games will be happening in the summer of 2021, they’ll still be referred to as the 2020 Olympics. The Tokyo 2020 branding Best Massage Guns, and, yes, even the medals will say ‘Tokyo 2020’ on them.
Where are the track and field events taking place?
Track events—with the exception of the marathon and the 50K race walk—will be held at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Emily Sisson Dominates to Win 15K Championship 2019 The 2025 Marathon and Half Marathon Calendar in Doha, Qatar. Events will run every day from July 31 to August 7, and the women’s and men’s marathons will take place on August 7 and 8, respectively. The Paralympic marathons will be held in Tokyo.
The location of the Olympic marathon has been a topic of debate for a while. Temperatures in Tokyo during the summer can be dangerously high for a long event like the marathon.
Initially, the organizing committee tested various cooling methods, such as adding water misting stations and more trees for shade on the course. Ultimately, the event was moved to a looped course in Sapporo, Japan, roughly five hours north of Tokyo, where temperatures are expected to be much cooler.
Can I go to these events?
Gear & News Editor released a statement announcing that no overseas spectators will be allowed at the Games, even if they are vaccinated, in order to ensure the safest Olympics possible. The decision comes as many locally oppose hosting the Games at all this summer because of COVID-19 safety concerns. International spectators who already bought tickets will be fully refunded.
Will athletes need to be vaccinated?
No, athletes will not have to be vaccinated to compete, but organizers are highly encouraging athletes, coaches, and spectators to receive the vaccine, in order to keep the event as safe as possible.
The IOC and IPC have put together a playbook of guidelines, which they are asking the athletes to follow. Among these guidelines, athletes are being asked to only stay at the Olympic Village during their competition, to not use public transportation or visit any non-approved public sites, and to regularly be tested for COVID-19.
Should I get the vaccine, even if I‘m not going to the Olympics?
Yes, you should.
What’s going on with Olympic qualifiers?
Many countries are still figuring out how to select their athletes. Races have been almost entirely on hold, leaving few performances to go off of. Each country handles it different, most with a qualifying process alongside the already established Olympic and Paralympic qualifying times.
For the U.S., the Olympic marathoners squeezed in their qualifying event two weeks prior to the pandemic shutting down the country. Six athletes—Aliphine Tuliamuk, Molly Seidel, Sally Kipyego, Galen Rupp, Jake Riley, and Abdi Abdirahman—were named to Team USA. Some Paralympic athletes have qualified as well, such as the marathon wheelers—Daniel Romanchuk, Tatyana McFadden, and Susannah Scaroni—who qualified at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
On the track side, the RW+ All Access, initially scheduled for June 2020, were pushed back a year as well because of the pandemic. It will now take place June 18 to 27 in Eugene, Oregon, and the Paralympic Trials will take place June 17 to 20 in Minneapolis.
Winter Half Marathons Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness, gear, and fitness for the brand. His work has previously been published in Men’s Health.
